Spirit looking to boom
Rex Lipp confident for debut
RACING: Rex Lipp is hoping the golden run of Spirit Of Boom’s progeny can continue at Doomben today.
The Toowoomba trainer saddles up Vienna Spirit in the opening race on the card, the Canadian Club QTIS Two-Years-Old Maiden Plate (1000m).
Out of highly successful sire Spirit Of Boom and Veesarme, the dam who was under the care of Lipp during her five-start career, a forward showing is expected.
Lipp said the filly had shown the stable a bit of potential in the lead-up to her debut in the city, and is hoping she can push forward from barrier five for Michael Cahill.
“With races like these it is sort of unknown who she’ll come up against, buts she should race very well,” Lipp said.
“She has shown us a bit in training, had a few jumpouts and jumped out nicely in those.
“Over the 1000 you can’t go back, you have to go forward, so she should be able to get forward in a comfortable position.”
Vienna Spirit can take home more than $26,500 with victory today as a result of QTIS bonuses. Michael Nolan has Devils Marbles also engaged in the race. The colt finished third on debut at the Sunshine Coast and will relish being drawn in gate two.
Later in the day, Ben Currie hopes a drop back to class two level will return Le Beau Renard to the winner’s circle.
The three-year-old finished ninth in Saturday grade at Eagle Farm last time out, breaking a run of three-successive second placings.
Layla’s Lad will round out the race for trainer Jenny Dorington, as the gelding looks to pick up career win number three.
Currie has another winning hope in the final event of the day with four-year-old The Launcher.
The gelding has been runner up at his past two outings, including a nose defeat at Ipswich on December 21.
Ken Jones will look to turn the fortunes of Panalley around in the same race, having won just one from 20 starts.
■ Lipp was full of praise for In His Stride moving forward after his run at Doomben at the weekend.
The gelding finished 11th, beaten under four lengths at bolter’s odds ($101) in the Falvelon Quality.
“His run last start was very pleasing and he finished off nicely at the 1100m,” he said.
The six-year-old is being targeted for the $1m Magic Millions QTIS Open Handicap at the Gold Coast on January 12.